In a captivating and nostalgic conversation on JioCinema’s daily show ‘#AakashVani,’ hosted by Aakash Chopra, former India cricketer Robin Uthappa embarked on a journey through time, reminiscing about his experiences with the 2007 World Cup squad. He also ventured into making intriguing predictions about which of his former teammates might excel as future cricket commentators and coaches.
Gym Enthusiasts of the 2007 T20 World Cup Team:
When quizzed about the fitness enthusiasts in the 2007 T20 World Cup team, Uthappa humorously revealed, “We all were. But Irfan (Pathan) used to do it the most. He lifted way too much and was very committed.”
Social Media Landscape in 2007:
Reflecting on the absence of social media in 2007, Uthappa shared, “There was none. WhatsApp had just started to gain popularity. Do you know what was going on then? BlackBerry Messenger. Everyone was single and everyone was stuck to it!”
The ‘Always Cool’ Dude:
Uthappa designated the title of the ‘Always Cool’ dude to none other than the legendary MS Dhoni, stating, “Mahi (MS Dhoni). He used to speak when required. When he said something, you would listen and shut up. Even in 2007. In group discussions, he used to talk quite a lot.”
‘Bro’ Moments with the Squad:
The camaraderie within the 2007 World Cup squad was palpable, with Uthappa reminiscing, “We had a whole group. It was me, RP (Singh), Piyush (Chawla), Irfan, and Mahi. We used to sit together and eat every day. We had a standard order. Dal makhani, grilled or tandoori or butter chicken, jeera aaloo, and roti. We used to get this daily in Durban. Work hard, and eat well, but in moderation. We used to munch on Nandos as well.”
The Team’s Jester:
For those seeking laughter and entertainment within the team, Uthappa acknowledged, “Mr. Funny Bones would be Bhajju Pa (Harbhajan Singh), Yuvi (Yuvraj Singh), and Irfan to a certain extent. Sreesanth also but we would laugh at him. For me, Sree was one of those genius personalities that could do everything. His mind runs too fast for his body and mouth, it’s like too many things happening. He’s too entertaining.”
Chatterbox on the Field:
Uthappa credited the team’s on-field suggestions to Virender Sehwag (Viru bhai) and Ajit Agarkar (Ajit bhai), sharing, “Viru (Virender Sehwag) bhai used to give a lot of suggestions. There weren’t many seniors, I think the most senior were Viru bhai and Ajit (Agarkar) bhai. It was calm and collected, and we would play as a unit. Suggestions would come from everyone.”
Ajit Agarkar’s Special Moment:
Uthappa recalled a special moment featuring Ajit Agarkar, “When they put on the medal, the only person to not take it off was Ajit bhai. He had gotten back to the hotel, showered, and we were meeting for a team get-together to cut a cake. Ajit bhai was still wearing the medal. I asked him, ‘Why are you still wearing it?’ He told me, ‘You don’t understand the enormity of what we have achieved. It hasn’t hit home, it’ll do that eventually.’ It hit home, for me personally, when we landed in India. That’s when we felt like we did something special. I mean, we won a World Cup. This is the first after ’83. It was a phenomenal feeling.”
Future Commentators and Coaches Predictions:
In an intriguing segment, Uthappa offered predictions about which of his former teammates could excel as future cricket commentators and coaches. He expressed, “Irfan (Pathan) could become a commentator, RP Singh has the knowledge to be a politician, Piyush Chawla is a potential commentator, Mahi (MS Dhoni) will never take up commentary, and Ajit Agarkar has the qualities of a great communicator and coach.”
The Eternal Optimists:
Uthappa emphasized the importance of optimism in cricket, revealing, “Sreesanth was an eternal optimist. Even after going through everything he has, he’s still extremely optimistic. He’s a huge inspiration as well. Mahi always could locate the positive side of things. But when you want to play at that level, you have to be an optimist. You’ll find very few pessimists at that level.”
The Cricket Nerd:
Finally, Uthappa identified Dinesh Karthik (DK) as another potential future commentator, describing him as a “proper cricket nerd” who possesses an extensive knowledge of the game, including statistics and behind-the-scenes gossip.
Robin Uthappa’s trip down memory lane provided a delightful glimpse into the camaraderie
ie and personalities of the 2007 World Cup squad while offering intriguing insights into potential career paths for his former teammates in the world of cricket.
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